Post-hole digger



(No Model.)

G. L. CARTER.

POST HOLE BIGGER. No. 278,878. Patented Jung 5,1883.

WITNESSES INVENT'GR. Afiww W 9. ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. FhnlwLiihcgnpber. Wm n nnnnn CV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLEMENT L. CARTER, OF UNION ClTY, INDIANA.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,878, dated June 5, 1883, Application filed February 16, 1883. -(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, CLEMENT L. CARTER, of Union City, in the county of Randolph and btate of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which' Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved post-hole digger or earth-auger, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the handles and connecting-bar of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

My invention has relation to post-hole diggers; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a posthole digger having two concavoconvex blades fastened upon the lower ends of two bars hinged together, each provided with a sideward-extending handle, and having means for holding them adjustably together, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A indicate the two cutting-blades, which are concavo-convex, and the cutting-edges B- of which are cut straight and bulged outward at the lower half, while theirrear edges, 0, are curved and rounded inward, adapted to gather and hold the dirt as it is cut out. These blades are fastened upon the lower ends of two bars, D D, the said lower ends being twisted at right angles to the upper portions of the bars, which are bent a short distance above the cutting-blades, so as .to lie parallel one upon the other, with their straight p ort-ions E, at the middle of which they are hinged, covering one another. Two bent lips, F, project from the outer edges of the straight portions, -one above and another below the bolt G, upon which such straight portions are pivoted, and are bent to .clasp around the side of the other bar from that to which they are attached in such a manner as to keep the bars together when the device is used, preventing the bars from becoming separatedwhenpower is applied to the handle and the device turned, boring in the ground. The upper ends, H, of

these bars are bent outward and fit into re-- cesses I in the sides of the handles J, to which they are securely bolted or otherwise fastened. A bar, K, is hinged at one end to the upper end of one of the bars H, and L-sh aped notches L in the lower edge of the same are engaged bya projecting flat lug, M, upon the other bar,

the inner half of the upper edge of said lug forming a laterally-proiecting lip, N, fitting into the vertical portion of the L shaped notch, so that when the notch is slipped upon lug M from the end of the same it will be held in place, locking the hinged bar, and through it keeping the bars D together. "he outer end ofthe hinged bar K is bent to lie flush with one of the handles J, so that the workman will grasp it at the same time he grasps the handle, thus securing it furthermore.

It will be seen that by changing the notched bar upon the lug M the size of the hole bored by the. auger may be increased or decreased at will, and that the arms and cutting blades may be opened to discharge the dirt dug up. It will also be seen that by the shape of the cutting-edges of the blades-bulging out at their lower partsthey will cut the hole large enough to admit the free turning of their upper portions, which serve to hold the dirt.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States i 1. In a post hole digger of the described class, the combination of the concavo-convex blades A, having cutting-edges B, cut straight and bulging outward at their lower portion, and rear edges, 0, curved downward and round ed inward, with the hinged bars D, hinged together upon bolt G, having their lower ends, upon which the cutting-blades are fastened,

twisted at right angles, and having handles J and means for keeping them adjustably together, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. In a post-hole digger of the described class, the combination of the hinged bar K, having L-shaped notches upon its lower edge and hinged upon one of the arms, with the lug M, extending from the face of the other arm, and having part of its upper edge, N, extend ing and bent sideward, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

3. The herein-described post-hole digger,

consisting of the concavo-convex cutting blades A, bars or arms D, having straight and parallel portions E, hinged upon bolt G, and having clamping-lips F and handles J hinged notched ball K, and lug M, all constructed and combined to operate as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' CLEMENT L. CARTER.

\Vitnesses:

I. G. STALL;

J OHN G. GRAHS. 

